Match Page 2017-18 - Current Standing WP: 134

Match Page 2017-18 - Season so Far WP:141

Match Page 2017-18 - H2H WP: 136

Match Page 2017-18 - Last 3 Matches WP: 142

Match Page 2017-18 - Season so Far WP:141

Preview: Zebre v Leinster

The Guinness PRO14 is serving up a full menu of matches in Round 15 with every team involved in the action including Zebre and Leinster – who will kick off Saturday’s schedule.

Defending champions Leinster will be looking to consolidate their position at the top of Conference B with victory against the Italian outfit.

What’s at Stake?

It will be the first time that Zebre have ever played a home game outside of Parma when they host Leinster at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana.

Leinster have won all 11 meetings between two sides and currently sit at the top of Conference B with a 21-point lead over their nearest rivals Benetton.

Meanwhile, Zebre are languishing at the bottom of Conference A with a 19-point gap to sixth-placed Toyota Cheetahs and are without a win in the competition since October.

Team News (Zebre)

Zebre will be without Tommaso Castello, Andrea Lovotti, Edoardo Padovani, Guglielmo Palazzani and David Sisi who are all away with Italy for the Guinness Six Nations.

To make matters worse winger, Mattia Bellini and Johan Meyer are among seven players also ruled out with injury.

Meanwhile lock George Biagi will enter the pitch before all his teammates and opponents to receive applause after reaching the 100-cap milestone in the last official game played by Zebre against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein three weeks ago.

Team News (Leinster)

Andrew Porter returns from international duty to complete the Leinster front row alongside Jack McGrath and James Tracy.

Jamison Gibson-Park and Ross Byrne team up in the half-backs, Conor O’Brien and Rory O’Loughlin make-up the centre combination, and Dave Kearney, Adam Byrne and Barry Daly form the back-three while academy player Jack Dunne is in line to make his debut if called on from the bench.

Leinster lock Ross Molony said: “You’re always going to get your opportunities. I’ve been quite happy with how this season has gone and the games that I’ve been playing.

“I’ve felt I’ve contributed well so it’s never going to be at a dead end. You can’t think like that or else you won’t end up going anywhere.

“Towards the end of last season, it became frustrating. It can naturally annoy you, getting left out of the 23 at times.

“You take it on the chin and look to see what you can do better. It’s in nobody else’s control barring your own.”

Key Battle: Carlo Canna vs Ross Byrne

Zebre’s 26-year-old fly-half Carlo Canna is his side’s top point-scorer so far this season, and the team’s danger man.

Canna knocked over all four of his conversion attempts last time he took to the field in the Guinness PRO14 as his team were beaten 61-28 by Toyota Cheetahs.

Ross Byrne will be his opposite man this weekend and like Canna, has scored the most points for his team this season.
Canna will need to on top of his game if he to outplay his counterpart and set the table for the Zebre backs to take control of the game.

Key stat: Leinster have lost only once to an Italian side since September 2010: 17-15 at home to Benetton last April.

Did you know? Zebre Rugby have not won since beating Enisei home and away in the European Challenge Cup in December, whilst their most recent victory in the Guinness PRO14 was at home to Edinburgh at the end of October.